COMMERCE, TEXAS – A&M-Commerce women's basketball (1-1) will make its long-awaited home-opener on Saturday against the Ouachita Baptist Tigers (2-1), looking to bounce back from last Monday's narrow 82-76 loss to Henderson State.
 
The Lions and Tigers duked it out last season, with the Lions prevailing in the Field House by a score of 68-64. It was the first time in program-history that A&M-Commerce women's basketball had defeated Ouchita Baptist. Before that, OBU had won all nine games the teams had played since they first met in 1983.
 
The Tigers will come to Commerce following a dramatic win against Arkansas Fort-Smith that came down to the wire, as junior guard Katherine West sunk a three with 3.9 seconds remaining to give OBU the 79-78 win. West has been a spark plug for longtime head coach Garry Crowder's squad, averaging 10 points, 4.6 assists, and over a steal per game to go with her impressive free throw shooting of 87.5 percent.
 
Three other Tigers have averaged double-digit scoring in the young 2014/2015 season, to help make up the 73 points per game they average as a team. Sophomore center Katie Kapler leads the way for OBU, averaging a double-double with 14 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Guards Taylor Bowles and Breana Harris each average 11.3 points per game, though Harris carries the unwelcome blemish of leading her team in turnovers, averaging four per game.
 
The Lions hope to continue riding the momentum of La'Tisha Hearne's huge open to the season. Hearne took home LSC Offensive Player of the Week honors following two games against McMurry and Henderson State in which she averaged a double-double (16.5 points, 11 rebounds) to go along with her field goal percentage of 55 percent, three steals and three blocks.
 
Freshman Princess Davis will make her home-debut after coming off an inspired 26 point performance against Henderson State, almost leading the Lions to their second last-minute comeback of the season. In addition to her offensive prowess, Davis and backcourt running mate Ashlee Johnson have combined to disrupt passing lanes for a whopping seven steals per game. The battle for takeaways should prove crucial for the Lions, as they average 10 steals per game compared to 6.3 per game for the Tigers.
 
Thus far into the season, the Lions have been a tale of two halves, only averaging 29.5 points in the opening period, then coming alive in the second half to average 43 points. Ouchita Baptist has demonstrated similar tendencies, averaging 31.6 points in first halves compared to 41.3 in second halves. A&M-Commerce will look to improve in opening sequences to capitalize.
 
Tipoff is scheduled for Saturday, November 22 at 2 p.m. in the Field House. Tickets run $5 for general admission and $3 for children ages 4 through 12. For kids three and under, as well as A&M-Commerce students with valid IDs, admission is free of charge.